Deshchytsia: Russia’s goal is to control the Ukrainian government

People: Andriy Deshchytsia

Ukraine's ambassador to Poland yesterday (12 January) rejected the Polish prime minister's claim that her country hosts a million Ukrainian refugees, saying they were not refugees and could at most be called "economic migrants".

Alexei Pushkov, head of the international department of the lower chamber of the Russian Parliament, the Duma, has said Russia must stop its gas talks with Ukraine and adopt sanctions against its neighbour.

Russia accused Ukraine's acting foreign minister on Sunday of "going beyond the limits of decency" by calling President Vladimir Putin a "dickhead" during a violent protest outside its embassy in Kyiv, following the shooting down of a Ukrainian military transport, in which 49 servicemen were killed.

Ukraine’s foreign ministry has strongly protested attempts to cross the country’s border by armed insurgents from Russia, in what is seen as attempts to disrupt the presidential elections on 25 May, and destabilize the situation in the eastern region of the country.

The main goal of Russia is to control Ukraine and its government, which means Moscow wants to be able to change the Ukrainian government, Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andriy Deshchytsia told EurActiv Czech Republic in an interview.